The Jobber Blogger #34 - TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING - 7/2/13

Do you ever get that feeling that you've lost focus on time... That you think today was yesterday, and you pile so much stuff into your head of what you hope to get done that you find it so over whelming you just watch The Office instead? It's been one of those weeks, I feel so behind with everything, despite the fact I thought today was yesterday. Work messes with your mind kids!!! Don't get jobs!

But as it happens, I haven't fallen behind so to speak with the Writing of the Jobber Blogger sailing toward issue 35. Exciting times, I'm further ahead than Marvel's Venom Comic-Books! Only far, far less successful. There's a tear in my eye for sure. Speaking of crying, this week's TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING was as good as you'd imagine, if only a little... dull. But that could be because I know what's going to happen for the next month, so... nothing new will happen till we hit Lockdown.

Though that is me, and not you, you simple minded people! Let's get down....... to it!?

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING - 7/2/13

Yes, the second Taped Impact from Manchester UK. Which is still amusing, given the fact that these happened back to back, but it's all played out like it happened weeks apart.... and all of it happened weeks ago! My mind is literally blown!

Speaking of Blowing, The Aces and Eights kick off the show, with the ever predictable, never relevant and always pointless: why? (insert name here) why? speech.

So, I'm sure everyone was reeling from the "shock" reveal of Garret and Wes last week, but Why on earth did they join Aces and Eights? Why the hell do they need to tell us why? Why is this a requirement. I get the explanations, they work well with Heel Turns, but it's not necessary for guys like Garret and Wes, who aren't exactly over in the first place. More to the point is the fact it's built like they made a recent choice to "turn". Despite Wes has been with Aces and Eights since the beginning. It was an inevitable reveal, it wasn't a last minute choice, this was planned, he didn't turn, why is he explaining anything?

But sure, let's get to their "reasons" Garret, sucking the air out of the Manchester Arena with his lack of charisma rambled on about being disrespected by the fans, and the Aces and Eights are his family. That was literally it. That's not even a reason?

If you're going to do something like this, then at least give us a motive, if there is none, then don't let them tell you nothing, where is the logic in that? It would have been more effective to say "I did it, because I wanted to". That sounds more Heel, then the fans don't like me.... with my year in the business, and no time in the spot light, and no championship wins, and hardly any matches.

Wes on the other hand has more of a presence even now, than Garret does. At least Wes had a bit more of a motive, given the fact that Wes has been calling Hogan for 2 years to get a tryout with TNA. And when they eventually brought him in, he needed to start at the bottom, and he is the son of legendary Wrestlers... yadda yadda. So, it was a pretty weak pay off for what could have been the most built up "reveal" within the Aces and Eights thus far.

Though to top the entire segment off, Devon ended the parade with "we always have an Ace under our sleeve". An Ace Under our sleeve? I'm sure the phrase is Ace up our sleeve, but I appreciate the new approach.

Kenny King vs. Zema Ion vs. Rob Van Dam - X-Division Championship

The X-Division Championship was up for Grabs with Kenny King still battling it out with RVD, and throwing Zema into the mix is no bad thing. The X-Division is having a little bit more of a showcase lately than it has in a while but it is different. Zema fits, King could easily go into different divisions, and so could Van Dam. But I do feel grounding RVD as a fighting Champion is a better placement for him on the Roster than having him floating around.

The match packed high flying, full impact moves, just as you would imagine it to be. King dropped Zema with a Northern Lights Suplex, when RVD landed his 5-Star on top of King, and picked up the win.

An interesting little backstage segment was held between Bruce Pritchard and D'Lo Brown talking about the Aces and Eights reveal of Garret and Wes. With Wes taking more of the shock value, with just how much so many people "bent over backwards" to get Wes into the company. And that the responsibility falls on both Bruce and D'Lo for voting him in via Gut Check. It's a nice way to introduce D'Lo to the audience again for the inevitable reveal of D'Lo as the VP of the Aces and Eights. But of course turning Taz heel with him joining the group, makes little sense given that he said No to Wes gaining a contract. Plot holes people!

Jesse vs. James Storm

An odd match for sure, but I guess given the Mixed Tag from last week, it was a nice Card-Filler, carrying over what little momentum these two might have from their previous bout.

Jesse whom was whining about being banned from ring-side decided to do a Pose-Down, to which Storm crashes. It's another little thing of, couldn't you just have booked this as a match, and introduced it as a match, without having to have them talk about it before hand. A Pose-Down? For no reason... because he's banned from ring-side. Just ring the bell, and have a match, it's much punchier!

Either way, Storm pretty much just wiped the floor with Jesse rendering this a Squash Match of sorts, short but sweet. Storm was a crowd favourite, having him out there makes sense, give him the momentum makes even more sense, and pulling off a quick victory seemed to go down well.

Building off of the more recent weeks, what with Roode and Aries gaining victories over both the Champs in singles competition, it inevitably led to a Tag-Team Title match. Now, I've been saying since the get-go pulling Roode and Aries down into a team isn't a great idea, even with the great chemistry they hold together. I get the fact of changing up the landscape, but I don't know if them actually forming a Team with longevity is a smart move. However, if they are a Team that just act as a "put together" rather than a fully functional Team, it works fine. Plus this leaves more room for Fresh matches in the Main Events, which is what matters.

Just as it was before with Aries and Chavo in a singles match, the Manchester crowd was Pro Aries. Something I'm sure you'll find wherever you go. The match for all it's worth, was fine, but it was the ending that really picked up steam. And the ending came at the ends of Aries and Roode, not carrying them match so to speak, but certainly elevating it.

Roode and Aries appeared to have another fall-out, which is when Roode storms off, leaving Aries at the mercy of the Champs. But before Chavo could land his FrogSplash, Roode made his return, pushing Chavo from the ropes, Aries low-blowing Hernandez, and Roode throwing him to the floor. This led perfectly to Aries delivering his devastating Corner Drop-Kick, followed up by Roode's SpineBuster and then the final nail in the coffin came at the hands of Aries' 450 Splash for the win.

I was fairly sure they would win the belts, but I am actually excited to see them move on to capture the singles titles also. If they keep that going, then they don't get grounded in the Tag-Team Division.

Interestingly, this win now makes Austin Aries the companies 5th Triple Crown Winner. Having captured the X-Division, World and Tag-Team Championships. Not bad in the 1 and a bit year Aries has been in TNA. If he can capture the Television Title, it's Grand Slam territory.

Miss Tessmacher vs. Tara

Now, I'm sure this is just down to an error, but if you listen to Christy Hemme announcing this match, it sounds as if she says "The Following Knockouts Tampon Test". As crude as that might be, funny it is! But seriously.... listen.

11min 30second mark

In all seriousness though, the match was good! Tara put it best in an recent interview, saying she just doesn't want it to be a "good match for the Women's Division", but just a good match all together.......period.

Tess had a very impressive flurry of moves, that still shows just how much better she is getting in the ring. Her butt-shaking, humping development aside, she is still very credible in the ring.

Whilst I was in the crowd, the people in front of me were mocking this match through-out its entirety. Not wanting to watch the Knockouts Perform. Now, I get the mentality. Having grown up watching the WWE, aside from the odd few "Divas" there was a whole bunch of mediocre talent. Pretty much just models, whom then try and Wrestle. TNA has Wrestlers, and it shows in spades. And I think the Knockouts Division is a very viable asset to TNA on a whole, and anyone whom wants TNA to achieve greater success, should be proud of the Knockouts Division and Women's Wrestling being represented in such a high calibre in a growing company like TNA.

Miss. Tessmacher with her (Tess-Shot I believe it's called) picked up the win in a Non-Title match against Tara. Interesting things to come!

TNA's British BootCamp proved to be a successful show overall, and obviously having the Winner determined and then hit the UK Tour was smart planning. So, with UK Tour Dates already announced for next year, I'm sure there will be a Season 2 of BootCamp.. to boot?

This led to JB introducing the winner: Rockstar Spud!

Now, I've been to Wrestling shows before in the UK where Spud has performed, and yes, he looked a lot different back then to how he does now.

And part of me hates the name Spud. I knew a guy at College named it, and a girl at Uni was nicknamed it also... for different reasons... I don't know the reasons.

Either way, Rockstar Spud sounds a little daft... but then I don't hate it, I guess. I'm glad he won, be interesting to see how he fits into the Company and where this all takes off. But certainly in his Home Country, he was well received, even if he was portrayed somewhat annoying on the BootCamp show.

However the go-to guy for Crashing segments, Mr. Robbie E,... crashed this segment. Not at all impressed with Spud, as he put it "you have no place in this company, unless we're hiring midgets!" - "There's no place for Short guys in this Business" replies Taz on Commentary... I found that amusing.

The highlight of this segment came with Robbie E jumping on Robbie T's back claiming he is holding him back from attacking Spud. This is when Robbie T "drops" his Clip Board, goes to pick it up allowing Spud to attack Robbie E.

The friction continues between the two Robbie's, and I'm still not convinced this is going to end well. Time will tell. Though a British Tag-Team between Rob Terry and Spud I would be in favour of.

Earlier on in the night, Bully and Hogan had a very strange backstage segment. Where Bully made it clear that he is not a "good guy". And the whole Family talk of Dad and Son-In-Law was just kind of creepy. Speaking of Creepy, after Bully said he will take care of the Aces and Eights, Hogan did his weird snide grin and laugh saying "Perfect.. hahaha". What is all that about?

Sting and Bully pretty much dominated the match, and again with any match involving The Aces and Eights, I fail to see why the outcome of a match has any effect on why they are here. They don't win or lose anything. It's just a match like anything else.

Better yet is when Sting and Bully call for the Tables, with the crowd Chanting "Table, Table, Table" Tenay says on Commentary "the Universal language, the international language, even here in England"... Even here in England? A Universal and International Language, that stretches even further, to be recognised in England, clearly not included in the phrase international, and doesn't exist in the Universe by that logic.

Sting was trying to drop Doc with a Top-Rope Superplex through the Table when Knox shows up, saving the day. Knox, whom still doesn't have a name, nor has actually competed in a match where he needed a name.

Eventually it's left down to Bully and Devon, and Bully "Hulks Up" in a type of constipated manor, and eventually puts Devon through the Table.

This leads to Hogan and Brooke coming out, and all of them celebrating, yay! Hogan Knows Best - featuring Bully Ray and Uncle Sting.

Well, it's on to the London Shows next week, as we work our way toward LockDown!